JEDDAH: The joint committee comprising officials from the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and consulate heads of Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Indonesia, met for the second time to discuss proposals to assist their nationals to meet the amnesty deadline.

It was decided at the meeting to send a letter to Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif detailing the concerns expressed by the members of the joint committee. Among the most important recommendations of the joint committee is the appeal to the minister to extend the grace period by six months.

According to Pakistani Consul General Aftab Khokhar, the letter highlights requests from several committee members for the simplification of procedures for the expatriates to obtain their final exit visas. The letter also includes a suggestion to open small offices to reduce the workload from the Passport Department. Khokhar expressed concerns about the fate of nationals who cannot rectify their work status or depart before the July 3 deadline, given the advent of Ramadan.

Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said there is an urgent need to extend the amnesty period for another three months after Haj to be able to accommodate the large number of irregular expatriates.

JCCI officials suggested that they would provide volunteers to provide assistance at the Deportation Center and at consulates to accelerate the flow of paperwork.